Don Melchor Vertical Wine tasting at Wine Watch with winemaker Enrique

"Hey Man, I'm drinking wine, eating cheese and catching some rays."

Donald Sutherland as Oddball, in "Kelly's Heros"

 

When it comes to the world's iconic wines they are getting more and more expensive so much so that today most of them have been put into the category of trophy wines rather than wines you can afford to actually consume.  It seems that most collectors have a section of their wine cellar that now say's DO NOT DRINK because of the prices are so high that up upsets the stomach of the wine collector.

One of the places that you can still find top level iconic wines produced by some of the world’s best winemakers for under $100 per bottle is Chile.  Chile has a long history of producing wine but it is not until the last few decades that they have been producing world class wines so we are really still on the ground floor of what is happening in terms of the quality revolution in Chile.

Take the most important winery in Chile, Concha Y Toro winery, they make millions of bottles of wine every year but it was not until 1987 that they decided to try to make at top level wine that would rival the best made in Bordeaux and from 1999 to the newly released 2010 vintage they have scored over (90 Points) in both the Wine Spectator and the Wine Advocate for the Don Melchor putting this wine into a very exclusive group of the world's top level elite wines.

Join us as we experience a vertical selection of this iconic Chilean wine.  We will taste through the 2008, 2009 and 2010 vintage of Don Melchor to showcase the current releases of Chile's top Cabernet Sauvignon with our host the winemaker for Don Melchor, Enrique Tirado Santelices.

The fee for this tasting is $75 + tax and Wine Watch caterings Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines.  Enrique will also have a few surprises for our group, this tasting is limited to 15 tasters, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Don Melchor Vertical Wine tasting at Wine Watch with winemaker Enrique Tirado Santelices

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

7:00 PM

 

Reception

2012 Concha Y Toro Sauvignon Blanc Serie Riberas Gran Reserva Colchagua

Price: $15.75    Sale $13.86    Case $161 Quantity in Stock: 9

(90 points)  This perennially excellent wine is as good as you’ll find in 2012. Scallion, lime and other green aromas precede a zesty, hard-driving palate. Sea shell, grapefruit, lime and chervil flavors set up a tight, minerally finish. Wine Enthusiast. 12-2013

This is from the Ribera Del Rapel region of the Colchagua this is just below the Casa Concha line, this is the second vintage of this line and has a very spicy bouquet pepperoncini and passion fruit on the nose, pretty floral notes and a bit of green grass. A fresh and bright style of Sauvignon with a light spice and tongue tingly minerality through the finish. Finish 40+ Excellent

2011 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Chardonnay Concha Limari Valley

Price: $22.50    Sale $19.80    Case $230.00

A nice amount of toasty oak spice on the nose with pineapple and flinty mineral notes, nice complexity on the nose. Toasty oak spice showing through the finish but has a good amount of pineapple fruit and that flinty mineral note to the end with a firm hand of acidity holding things together nicely. Finish 40+ Excellent

 

 

Vertical of Don Melchor

2008 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Chile

Price: $99.75    Sale $87.78    Case $1018

(92 Points) The 2008 Don Melchor is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc that is aged for 15 months in French oak (72% new and 28% one-year old.) It has a crisp, precise nose of blackberry, fish scale and fresh black olives. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins on the entry. It is grippy in the mouth with good weight, but manages to retain fine focus and builds nicely to a citrus-fresh finish with touches of orange peel and marmalade. Drink 2014-2020.

Concha y Toro needs no introduction. I did not have time to visit their facility, but driving past it, one could not help but be impressed by its size. For many around the world, Concha y Toro forms their entrance to Chilean wine. With an exhausting array of wines from seemingly every corner of Chile, I found their wines to play it safe. Few reached the standards I expected, even if many represent good value. At the top end, the wines were good rather than great vis-a-vis its peers, with the notable exception of the Don Melchor.  eRobertParker.com #204, Dec 2012

 

2009 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Chile

Price: $99.75    Sale $87.78    Case $1018

(94 Points) This muscular red packs a mélange of roasted plum, cassis and macerated wild berry on a full-bodied frame. There's plenty of fresh acidity and tannic structure, as the long finish unwinds with layers of maduro tobacco and humus, with a grace note of wild flowers. Best from 2014 through 2020. 10,000 cases made. –NW  Wine Spectator, Issue: Mar 31, 2013

 

2010 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Chile

Price: $100.00    Sale $88.00    Case $1020

The 2010 Don Melchor (a homage to Don Melchor Concha y Toro who created Concha y Toro in 1883) is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc from Alto Maipo, the best terroir for Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile. 2010 was a cool vintage, balanced and fresh. It has aromas of blood and fresh meat, it feels subtle, with signs of youth in the shape of some lactic hints with good freshness, notes of black and red berries, developing some aromas of graphite and cold bonfire with time in the glass. The wine fills your mouth with its sophisticated, fine-grained tannins and has good freshness and length. The wine is quite drinkable now, but if you wait a little, the lactic touch should get more integrated and will age for a long time. I tasted 1993 and 1996 and both are drinking perfectly now: this wine has a track record. The 2010 vintage was launched in March-April 2014. Drink 2015-2025.

As you can probably guess, I didn’t taste all these Concha y Toro wines in five minutes. The process involved meeting and tasting with the three main winemakers from the huge winery – the second largest in the world, I believe. I sat down in Madrid with Enrique Tirado, who is in charge Don Melchor and Gravas del Maipoas as well as the Eolo from Trivento, their Argentinean winery. Another day, I tasted Marques de Casas Concha and the separate winery Maycas de Limari with Marcelo Papa. I visited their headquarters in Maipo where Ignacio Recabarren shared his work on the Trio, Amelia, Terrunyo and Carmin de Peumo line. In addition, they sent me more samples to taste through the trade organization Wines of Chile. Phew! The three winemakers have different personalities, which are transmitted to the wines; Marcelo Papa has a Burgundian concept of the wines, harvesting a little earlier, using less new oak, experimenting with foudres, not always barriques, and favoring cool climate regions. Concha y Toro has a number of wineries and produces a wide range of wines throughout Chile in all prices ranges. Enrique Tirado, a nice, quiet, serious guy, has been in charge of Don Melchor since 2007. He also runs Gravas de Maipo and oversees the Eolo wines from the Trivento winery in Mendoza, Argentina. Puente Alto is a small appellation within Maipo with about 400 hectares of vineyards, and the Don Melchor vineyards are 126 hectares (90% Cabernet Sauvignon). From these vineyards, they produce about 170,000 bottles of a truly iconic Chilean wine from the alluvial soils of the Andes with lots of rocks, in the third terrace from the Maipo river. This is the best terroir for Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile (Casa Real, Domus Aurea, Don Melchor, and more). Bordeaux winemakers Jacques and Eric Boissenot have been consultants for Don Melchor since the beginning. Since 1999, Don Melchor has had between 2% and 10% Cabernet Franc (in 2013 it will have 10%, the maximum). Vineyards are at 650 meters altitude. The wine is aged in French oak for around 14 months and the pH is approximately 3.6 to 3.7. I had the chance to do a vertical tasting of Don Melchor and see how the wine has evolved through time. Nowadays it’s less balsamic and less minty, the wood increasing until 2001 and then decreasing. Marcelo Papa is responsible for the Marques de Casa Concha label (with wines from different regions) as well as the Maycas de Limari (a completely separate and independent winery in the Limari Valley that is listed separately). Finally, Ignacio Recabarren, is the winemaker responsible for the rest of the lines for a company, which is the second largest wine producer in the world after Gallo. Among what he oversees are most of the Carmenere wines at the winery in Puente Alto. He was once involved in Quebrada de Macul, producers of Domus Aurea, one of the iconic Cabernet-based wines from Chile. He has an inquiring mind, always questioning what is done, trying to improve and do things differently. He experiments often, and I was able to preview some of those experiments.  Wine Advocate #213, Jun 2014

 

A few extra wines we will be tasting from Concha Y Toro Winery:

2011 Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere Peumo

Price: $20.25    Sale $17.82    Case $207

This was Don Melchor's name the Marques de Casa Concha so this line indicated to him. Peumo is becoming known for its Carmeniere, Concha Y Toro owns 50% Carmenere that is planted in Chile. There is 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, the law in Chile is 85% Varietal. Has a lovely intensity of plum and cherry fruit on the nose with fresh herbs sweet tobacco spice and some espresso and coco notes, nice complexity on the nose. A good amount of fruit on the palate with a fresh finish a bit light in the middle but showing the nuance from the nose in the finish. Finish 35 Very Good

2011 Concha Y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Marques de Casa Concha Puenta Alto

Price: $22.50    Your Price: $19.80               Case $230

This is upper Maipo valley and this is a great vintage for this wine, 100% varietal with that signature peppery spice and coffee notes that Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon has with a good hand of currant and dark cherry fruit along with fresh earth, nice complexity here on the nose. A very elegant style of Cabernet Sauvignon with nice complexity, an old world style with that rustic peppery spicy note from the nose through the finish along with fine herbs and earth through the finish. Finish 45+ Excellent +

2007 Concha Y Toro Carmenere Carmin de Peumo

Price: $148.50    Your Price: $130.68

Carmin means crimson, 91% Carnenere with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this is a single plot in their vineyard in the Colchagua Valley and this area is high in clay wiich is essential for this varietal. This wine has a beautiful bouquet of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, toasty oak spice showing through the dark cherry, currant and cassis berry fruit very rich and nuanced bouquet. A big and chunky wine with lots of dark berry fruit has wonderful balance fresh spice and floral notes along with all that nuance from the bouquet, coffee, dark chocolate and that distinct earthy quality that screams Chile. Finish 50+ Most Excellent +

2008 Concha Y Toro Gravas del Maipo Syrah Buin Maipo

Price: $154.50   Your Price: $135.96

This is a small appellation in the Maipo, there are three of these, Pirque and Puete Alto which is where the Don Melchor is from. A host of dark spices, soy, black plum and dark cherry liqueur like fruit dark coco, espresso and fresh plowed dark earth, sweet tobacco and dark pepper. A big and chewy wine on the tongue with dark plum and cherry fruit, dark spices, and smooth round tannins big but has wonderful balance and depth of flavors with lots of dark spices and dark coco lovely complexity through the finish. Finish 50+ Most Excellent

 

Menu

Mole BBQ Chicken served over creamy polenta with Avocado Fries

Sliced NY Sirloin served with fried Quesedilla over queso blanco sauce with fresh tomato and garden herb salsa

Dark chocolate covered Bacon and Blackberries

 

The Fee for this tasting is $75 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

 

A bit about Concha Y Toro

Concha y Toro is Latin America’s principal wine exporter and one of the most important wine brands in the world, with a presence in more than 135 countries.

A global company that brings together tradition and innovation, and supports its commitment with the consumer by providing them with the best quality and wine experience.

Our agricultural-oenological work philosophy is oriented to quality in the whole production process and to extracting the unique and distinctive characteristics of each specific origin.

The diversification of soils and climates has enabled us to have the widest range of varieties in the Chilean industry. This, plus a deep dedication by the winery and constant research, provides internationally praised wines.

 

A bit about their Vineyards & Valleys:

 

Limarí     Limarí Valley

The valley of the river Limarí starts to the north of the Chilean wine-industry zone and is located in the Region of Coquimbo. This area, recently developed for the wine business, has ideal characteristics for the production of white wines and some red varieties like Syrah. It is a semi-desert valley of great luminosity.

 

VINEYARDS: Nueva Aurora, Los Acacios, San Julián, El Trapiche and Lachica.     MAIN WINE VARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.     CLIMATE: Temperate semi-arid with marine influence.     SOIL: Thin clay loam with scarce organic material.

 

Casablanca     Casablanca Valley

Due to its climatic conditions, with a strong sea influence and morning mists spring and summer, the valley of Casablanca is an exceptional micro-zone for the growing of premium white varieties, like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

VINEYARDS: El Triángulo, Lo Ovalle and Los Perales.     MAIN WINE VARIETIES: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Pinot Gris.     CLIMATE: Cold with marine influence.     SOIL: Sandy clay loam.

 

Rapel     Rapel Valley

Thanks to the climate and the composition of its soils, this valley permits the growing of a wide variety of grapes. It is divided into two: the valleys of Cachapoal and Colchagua which have acquired a great international prestige, especially in red varieties like Carmenere and Syrah.

VINEYARDS: Cachapoal Valley Peumo, Idahue, Rucahue, Las Pataguas y Ucúquer. Colchagua Valley Palo Santo, La Puerta, Las Mercedes, Chomedahue, Agua Santa and El Estero.     MAIN WINE VARIETIES: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Chardonnay and Carmenere.     CLIMATE: Hot Mediterranean, cold Mediterranean.     SOIL: Clay loam and sandy loam.

 

Curicó     Curicó Valley

Located in Chile’s central zone, this valley favors the production of various fine varieties thanks to its cimatic and soil conditions, which permit the production of a wide variety of premium wines.

VINEYARDS: Rauco, San Ignacio, San Manuel and Yungay.     MAIN WINE VARIETIES: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Carmenere, Pinot Gris, Viognier and Syrah.     CLIMATE: Temperate Mediterranean, cold Mediterranean.     SOIL: Clay to clay loam and sandy loam.

 

Maule     Maule Valley

These are generous, wine-producing lands to which we have introduced chosen varieties from our nurseries, modern technology and our experience in making wine.

VINEYARDS: Quebrada de Agua, Lourdes, Villa Alegre, Mariposas and Santa Raquel.     MAIN WINE VARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Carmenere.     CLIMATE: Mediterranean with great day and night temperature swings.     SOIL: Clay to clay loam and sandy loam.

 

Maipo     Maipo Valley

The slopes of the Maipo receive the force of the torrent of the river of same name flowing down from the high Andes mountains, bringing thawed waters rich in oxygen and minerals which generously water the vines.

VINEYARDS: Puente Alto, El Mariscal, Pirque, Santa Isabel, San Adolfo and Lo Mackenna.     MAIN WINE VARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.     CLIMATE: Mediterranean with great day and night temperature swings.     SOIL: Clay loam and very stony

 

Other Wines Available from Concha Y Toro winery:

2012 Concha y Toro Grand Reserve Chardonnay Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86          Case $161

Sourced from Ucúquer Vineyard, Southern bank of the Rapel River, D.O. Colchagua, Rapel Valley.  Bright yellow. Elegant and complex; recalls light tropical fruits and toasted hazelnuts intermingled with mineral notes. Mild and creamy with pleasing acidity and a long finish.

 

2011 Concha y Toro Grand Reserve Merlot Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86          Case $161

Merlot 90%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%.  Sourced from Mariposas Vineyard, North bank of the Maule River, D.O. San Clemente, Maule Valley.  Deep red with pronounced violet notes. Highly intense. Its notes of black fruit, particularly plums, blackberries, and black cherries, blend harmoniously with notes of spice and a light touch of mocha. The aromas intensify on the palate. Sweet, ripe tannins provide balance between suppleness, elegance, and might.

 

2012 Concha y Toro Grand Reserve Malbec Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86          Case $161

90% Malbec, 10% Syrah.  Sourced from Palo Santo Vineyard, South Bank of the Tinguiririca River, D.O Marchigüe, Colchagua Valley.  Very intense, deep purplish-red. Intense aromas of black fruits, blueberries, black plums, and chocolate. Concentrated, with soft, sweet tannins. Flavors of black fruit. Good structure and density.

 

Concha y Toro Grand Reserve Carmenere Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86          Case $161

90% Carmenere, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon  Sourced from Peumo Vineyard, North bank of the Cachapoal River, D.O. Peumo, Cachapoal Valley.  Deep, intense, purplish-red. Intense aromas of black fruits, blueberries, black plums, chocolate, and white pepper. Concentrated, with soft, sweet tannins. Good structure and density.

 

2012 Concha y Toro Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86          Case $161

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Carmenere, 2% Cabernet Franc  Sourced from Palo Santo Vineyard, South bank of the Tinguiririca River,D.O. Marchigüe ,Colchagua Valley  Deep red. Intense aromas of black fruits, plums, cherries, chocolate, and cassis. Concentrated, with sweet tannins. Red fruit flavors. Good structure and density.

2011 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Sauvignon Blanc Price: $22.50       Sale $19.80           Case $230.00

Clean and bright, greenish-straw yellow. Aromas of lime and grapefruit are followed by ripe white peach and fresh-cut grass.  This an intense yet mild wine with a delicious concentration of ¬flavors enveloped in a mineral structure

 

2012 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Cabernet Sauvignon Price: $22.50       Sale $19.80          Case $230.00

Unctuous cherry, cassis, cedar, blackberry, black tar and smoke-led presence. Tight and focused with a deep concentration of ¬flavors framed by firm tannins. A smooth, almost silky texture masks the firm tannic structure beneath, which really comes to the fore at the beginning of the long finish.

 

2010 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Carmenere Price: $22.50       Sale $19.80          Case $230.00

Dark and deep red. It has a classic Peumo Carmenere profile of intense dark plums, black currants, and dark chocolate. It is modern in tannins which are soft and finely ground. The wine show firm tannic structure, with a crisp bite of acidity.

 

2011 Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Merlot Price: $22.50       Sale $19.80           Case $230.00

Dark and deep red. Rich and deftly balanced yet muscular red, with layers of complex currant, spice, wild berry and plum. Show off a nice touch of vanilla oak and mocha, adding a nice dimension. Though tannic now, this wine should evolve. There's already some complexity beginning to develop out of its firm, quiet, supple core.

2011 Concha Y Toro Riesling Terrunyo Block 27 Peumo Price: $33.75       Sale $29.70          Case $345

Intensely oral aromas on the nose with citrus notes. ¬ palate is very mineral, with tremendous acidity and refreshing notes of lemon.

 

2012 Concha Y Toro Sauvignon Blanc Terrunyo Block 27 Peumo Price: $33.75       Sale $29.70          Case $345

Starts out with citrus, mineral, and herbaceous aromas and then opens to exotic and calcareous notes. ¬e palate is very fresh and elegant, with incisive acidity that extends long with tones of herbs and passion fruit

 

2010 Concha Y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Terrunyo Block 27 Peumo Price: $39.50       Sale $34.76          Case $403

Deep red. Expressive, black fruit, mineral notes, led pencil, black currant and aromas. Well structured, muscular, detaching soft tannins, persistent with a long, pure and fruity finish.

 

2010 Concha Y Toro Carmenere Terrunyo Block 27 Peumo Price: $39.50       Sale $34.76          Case $403

A good amount of that same toasty oak spice, black earth, mocha and dark coco notes along with some of that peppery spice that this varietal is known for but not green, very nice balance and complexity on the nose. This wine is from a vineyard planted in 1990 and is a single block from this vineyard site, a very big and chewy wine on the tongue with nice freshness through the finish along with all that nuance from the nose through the finish long and layered with a bit of that peppery spice but lots of everything else. Finish 45+ Excellent +

 

2009 Concha Y Toro Syrah Terrunyo Block 27 Peumo Price: $39.50       Sale $34.76          Case $403

Deep, dark red. Ripe and dense, offering violet notes intermingled with cassis, asphalt and cherry. Lingering rich and smoky black tar on the finish. Velvety-textured, concentrated, powerful and supple with an enormous core of fresh fruit and truffles and enveloping smooth, ripe, well-rounded and elegant tannins.